Young Cowboys rookie turning heads

KYLE Laybutt has told the story behind his unique superstition “about a hundred times”.

When teammates notice his right big toe painted bright red at training, they stare in bewilderment.

But for the 21-year-old half, who will make his NRL debut tonight, it’s a reminder of his roots, how far he’s come and how many people he’s proven wrong.

Red is the colour of his junior club Bundaberg Wests Panthers, and plenty of his family will be in the AAMI Park stands when he runs out in the Cowboys No.6 against the Melbourne Storm.

But what’s the origin of his quirky pre-match ritual?

“My mum doesn’t have any girls in the family so they tried to ‘girlie’ us up a bit, she painted me and my brother’s toenails one day (when I was about 12),” he said.

“I played well at footy that weekend and mum mucked around saying ‘I think it’s the toenail polish’ and I’ve been doing it for 10 years now.

“After training when I take the boots off, they (teammates) just sit there and stare at it. I usually paint it on our day off every week.

“I’ve had to explain it about a hundred times but they just have a laugh about it, everyone’s got their own superstitions.”

Storm coach Craig Bellamy is renowned for being hard to impress but he has taken note of 90kg Laybutt’s courage.

“They have a young fella (Laybutt) coming in there who will be keen to play well. I’ve watched a little bit of him and he is a brave player who will do a good job for them,” he said.